The Board of Cycling Ireland has decided to place a limit on races in which A4 riders take part with other categories that is handicap races less than 80km. In the north of Ireland legislation limits all race field sizes to eighty riders per race except for the Tour of Ulster and the Tour of the North where 100 riders are permitted. However no such legistaion exists in the south. This new move by Cycling Ireland is part of an ongoing strategy to improve race safety. Going forward for 2014 it is forseen that all events must be pre-entry. Currently pre-entry is alnmost the norm for all races in the north.

Rule Change – Race Field Sizes Rule Affected – T3.2(a)

In races open to senior category riders including A4s, i.e., handicap races up to 80kms, the maximum number of riders permitted to start shall be 140. Where promoters accept in excess of 140 entries then a separate race for A4s must be run.

Both races may be on the same course at the same time; however the time gap between the start time for each event must be such that under normal circumstances the two races will not intermingle.

Pre-entry Advance Notice

The Board of Cycling Ireland recommends that promoters who do not already operate a pre-entry system should adopt such a system at the earliest opportunity to facilitate the smooth operation of the above rule.

In accordance with the current Cycling Ireland Technical Regulations the above rule will be operational by 01st April.

However in the interests of safety the Board recommend that where possible clubs promoting races prior to the 01st April should implement the spirit of this rule.

It is the Board’s intention that from the start of the 2014 season a system of on line pre-registration will be mandatory in all Cycling Ireland sanctioned events.